Lifesaving apparatus



Marh 2.1, 1944. E F. SPANNER 2,344,652

.LIFESAVING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 23, 1940 *FEJL lNyENToR in A11-ORN E2! Patented Mar. 21, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application September 23, 1940, Serial No. 358,011 In Great Britain August 1940 1 Claim.

This invention is concerned with lifesaving apparatus and provides a reversible steel container comprising two pressings from Z-feet 6 inches to 3-feet 6 inches square, and 3 inches to 4 inches deep, these being sealed together around the periphery so that a reversible sealed metal float is formed from Z-feet 6 inches to 3-feet 6 inches square by from 6 to 8 inches deep.

The invention provides that this container shall be filled with good quality kapok or balsa wood or expanded rubber, or any like material having the property of preventing water from entering the oat even should the metal case be perforated.

The invention also provides for the tting of narrow strips of wood forming a square on the top and bottom sides, together with short loops of rope to form hand holds, and longer loops of rope capable of being passed over a mans shoulders and under his armpits. To assist men using the rope shoulder loops, the invention provides that these shall be made of buoyant rope.

The invention further provides, around the periphery of the iioat, seats hanging from stiff metal hawses or handhelds, these seats being so arranged, by means of a biiilar suspension, that they take up a stable position when the iioat is in the water in such a way that a man can lbe partially supported by sitting astride one of the seats without running any risk of becoming entangled.

To ensure cheap and rapid standardised production, the invention provides that the seats shall be formed as thin metal pressings shaped to give safe and comfortable support.

Referring to the attached drawing, Figure 1 shows a plan of a oat in accordance with the invention. The top edge shows the shoulder ropes extended. The bottom edge shows the shoulder ropes stowed. The left hand edge shows the seats stowed. The right hand edge shows the seats in service. It must be understood that all four edges are fitted similarly. Figure 2 a side elevation showing seats stowed on the left hand, and seats in the supporting position on the right hand, and Figure 3 a part section.

In these figures a and b are the two pressings which are sealed together at the peripheral joint c, and filled with the water excluding material d. ee are notched protector strips of wood forming raised square frames on both sides of the float, ff hand holds formed of short lengths of rope, two of which are connected to each of the eyelets m of the rope harness as shown in Figure 1, the parts between the eyelets being divided by the Stoppers n to form loops of rope gg sui'ciently long to pass over a mans shoulders land under his armpits; hh hawses or strong metal hand holds; :if seats suspended from hh by bifilar suspension ropes Ick. In the water each man supported would sit astride one of the seats, facing the float and with a loop gg passing under his armpits and behind his back.

For stowage, the ropes and seats are secured in bowsed-in positions by means of lead wire lashings ll or the like. These can easily be broken when the oat is brought into service after it has been thrown into the water.

It will be noted that it is immaterial which way up the float falls into `the water, since both sides of the iioat are tted alike.

I claim:

Lifesaving apparatus comprising a single thin reversible watertight container, buoyant material in said container, hawses on the external peripheral wall of said container, a looped rope harness applied to each side of said container, notched strips for slidingly securing said harnesses in place with the said loops free to encircle persons and individual seats each suspended from two ol said hawses to support respectively the persons encircled by said loops.

EDWARD FRANK SPANNER. 

